Chinese Foreign Minister Li Zhaoxing met with US Secretary of State Colin Powell in Berlin Wednesday to discuss bilateral and international issues.

Li said Sino-US relations are witnessing good development at present as the two countries have maintained close contact and coordination.

US Vice President Dick Cheney will visit China in April and Chinese Vice Premier Wu Yi will travel to the United States later in the same month to attend a conference of the Sino-US Joint Commercial and Trade Commission, Li said.

The two sides should make joint efforts for the visits to yield positive results, he said.

Describing the Taiwan issue as the most sensitive and important question in Sino-US relations, Li said the United States should adhere to the one-China policy as well as the three joint communiqués on bilateral relations and oppose "Taiwan independence".

The elections in Taiwan are of a local nature in China and have not changed the fact that Taiwan is part of China, Li said.

The Chinese foreign minister urged the United States to refrain from any official contact with the Taiwan authorities.

Powell said the United States values its relations China and is willing to make joint efforts with China for the continued development of bilateral relations.

Cheney is looking forward to a successful visit to China and the US side is also preparing for Vice Premier Wu's visit, Powell said.

The US government will continuously uphold the one-China policy, abide by the three Sino-US communiqués and not support any form of "Taiwan independence", he said.

The two sides also exchanged views on the Afghan issue, the fight against terrorism and the situation on the Korean Peninsula.

(Xinhua News Agency April 1, 2004)